Several years ago a group of young artists were griping
about things at their studio. Their behavior amused and annoyed me. I scolded
the kids and informed them that one day they would look back and remember this
time as the good old days and wonder why they ever complained about anything.
Every studio goes through this very special period. It's the
beginning. It's the honeymoon. It's the start of a brave new adventure – and to
be sure, it's always extremely exciting. I know – I've been there numerous times
myself.
Let's go back in time and take a look at a brand-new
enterprise just beginning in the Silverlake district of a town called
Hollywood. A group of young men and women were engaged in a brave new
experiment, and few thought the intrepid group of young artists even had a
chance of survival. However, survive they did, and the face of animation was
changed forever by a man named Walt Disney.
Taking risks was a way of life for young Walt Disney
Of course, few young companies ever manage to survive.
However, should success be their destiny they'll face obstacles other than mere
survival. They'll be challenged with the possible loss of their heart and soul.
Success has a way of doing that. In my lifetime I've seen more than one
enterprising young company succeed its way to failure. I'll give you an example,
only this time – it won't be Disney.
Many years ago, I had the opportunity to work with a vibrant
young company in Southern California. The staff was energized, hardworking and
diligent. However, that wasn't what impressed me about the company. It was their
shared interest and their concern for each other. Perhaps this was best
expressed at lunchtime when the president of the company and his staffers sat
at a large table to chat while having their noon meal. Writers, designers, and
accountants sat and ate together while discussing their shared goals. Call it
"Camelot" if you will, but it honestly felt exactly like that inside the
company. There was no hierarchy and no "top dogs." Staffers were not motivated
by money or self interests, but all pitched in to create and market the best
product possible.
In time, the company not only survived – it thrived. Soon, a
larger company with millions of investment dollars came a-calling. A deal was
made and the company was soon acquired. There were talks of expansion, growth
and even more production. I'll have to confess, we were all very excited.
Sadly, that's not what happened. With the acquisition came
corporate structure and every negative that goes with it. Now, there were
endless, pointless meetings with inept vice-presidents whose jobs were
expressly to do nothing. The former president was long gone, and those left
behind scrambled for a better position within the company. It wasn't long
before this scrappy, enterprising little establishment became another bloated
corporate dinosaur. Nothing could get done because no one dared to make a
decision. The employees who once looked out for each other now worked in their
own self-interest. In time, I grew disenchanted and walked away. It was just as
well, because the company was eventually shut down. A promising enterprise
became the victim of its own success.
Nobody dares risk anything in the corporate environment
Before any of you start jumping to conclusions let me say
that the studio I'm referring to no longer exists. However, the twin dangers of
complacency and hubris continue to stalk the successful. It would appear that
success even saps creativity. Once an artist is no longer hungry – they're no
longer creative.
Early on, I mentioned Walt Disney and his little experiment
over in the Silverlake district of Hollywood. You can't help but get the
impression that Walt was always "betting the farm." Every time it appeared the
company could cool their heels and let the money pour in, Walt would be off on
another wild and risky adventure. It was almost as though Disney dared not
allow himself to become complacent. He had built his business on risk – and he
needed to keep it that way. For a guy who started with nothing, it was a pretty
audacious plan
I know it sounds crazy, but I think success is the greatest
risk every company faces. Once you've built an enterprise there's a danger of
losing it. Therefore you tend to hedge your bets. Minimize risks. Do the
opposite of everything that made you successful in the first place. When that
time comes, a company needs to be more vigilant than ever lest they end up on
the trash heap of business failures.
That initial animation company I mentioned in my
introduction is still around today, and a few of the grumbling kids (now a
whole lot older) remain employed. However, there's one thing I know they'll
admit. They truly miss the good old days before everyone became fat and happy.
And before you get fat & happy over Thanksgiving Dinner, just a quick reminder: If you've got an animation fan on your holiday shopping list, this Disney Legend has several books on the market that
talk about the many amazing & amusing adventures that Mr. Norman has
had during the 40+ years he's worked in the animation industry.
Floyd's most recent effort – "'Disk Drive: Animated Humor in the Digital Age" – is available for purchase through blurb.com.
While Mr. Norman's original collection of cartoons and stories —
"Faster! Cheaper! The Flip Side of the Art of Animation" – is still for
sale over at John Cawley's Cataroo.
And if you still haven't had your fill of Floyd … Well, then feel free to move on over to Mr. Fun. Which is where Mr. Norman posts his musings when he's not writing for JHM.